SAMANTA Saugh, recently appointed president of Guardian Life of The Caribbean – the backbone of the Guardian Group – boasts of the digital shift enveloping the region’s largest life insurance provider.

Agents and clients benefit from streamlining applications and claims in an industry with a notorious reputation for bureaucracy.

Yet, Saugh advocates for preserving the human element, especially in life insurance.

Speaking with Business Day on October 21, five months into her new role, Saugh was firm that while technology can streamline applications and claims, life insurance should only become a partially digitised process.

"Life insurance is more than just an application," she said at Guardian Life's Columbus Circle, Westmoorings office.

Guardian Life, a subsidiary of Guardian Holdings Ltd (GHL), a diversified financial services group, provides services across life insurance, health insurance, pensions, and asset management. Guardian Life is one of the largest life insurance providers in the region, with a strong market presence in TT, Barbados, Jamaica, and other regional markets.

The company prides itself on taking a people-first approach, which Saugh believes is pivotal to its operations.

Guardian Life offers a range of life insurance products such as whole life, term life, and universal life policies; health insurance, including medical and critical illness coverage; and pension plans; and wealth and estate planning, focusing on legacy and wealth transfer solutions through estate planning services.

The personal connection between clients and insurance providers is essential, especially in an industry that deals with often traumatic life events.

"Yes, technology can improve efficiency," she said, "but at the end of the day, it's about people, relationships and trust.

“Technology is an enabler, but that’s all it is. So as we progress into the next era, finding that right balance between our relationships, with clients, staff, shareholders and providers, that personal touch is always important. We are in a people-centred, people-driven business.”

Saugh brings over 15 years of experience in finance to her role at Guardian Life.

She worked at Scotiabank for nine years, holding the position of senior manager of finance and business support. She developed the finance departments at Scotia Insurance in the Eastern Caribbean and Barbados, before joining Guardian Life in 2018 as interim vice president of finance.

Saugh said her interest shifted to “the reasons” behind the numbers when she joined the insurance industry.

[caption id="attachment_1116508" align="alignnone" width="1024"] A client views the Guardian Group portal on a computer screen. - Photo by Faith Ayoung[/caption]

"Coming into Guardian Life, all of that experience flowed naturally. From day one, I was involved in supporting, not just the president at the time, but also the operations and sales teams.”

Saugh was appointed interim CFO of Guardian Group in May 2022, and her permanent appointment came two months later. A divers